Bolster center brace



Jan. l0, 1939. J. E. rl-:ssEYMAN Er AL 2,143,216

BOLSTER CENTER BRACE Filed Feb. 26, 1937 4 Sheets-$heet 1 Jan- 10, 1939- J. E. TEssl-:YMAN ET Al. 2,143,216

BOLSTER CENTER BRACE Filed Feb. 26, 1937 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 FW L?. FW 6I l Z5 @www 67.9. in?. J u I gwuenl'ow 0M E ZQSLSZW E/g' y andlalllls JUL l0, l939- J. E. TEssr-:YMAN ET AL 2,143,216

BOLSTER CENTER BRACE Filed Feb. 26, 1937 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 I lola/LE ssqymafz lzdlalls' a /lZl/ `Iam. 10, 1939. J. E. TEssEYMAN ET A1. 2,143,216

BOLSTER CENTER BRACE Filed Feb. 26, 1937 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 1, '.g. F. 4. 1579553 *n Hm f.; j?? .f5 Jgd 57 o 9 y Q j@ Jolz E ss i9 andlalaf memes Jul. 1o, 1939 UNITED STAT-ss PATENT `ori-lcs John-E. Tesseyman and Louis G. Miller, Bethlehem, Pa., assignors to Bethlehem Steel Company, a corporation of Pennsylvania Appucati'mrebmry 26, 1937, serial No. 127,953

25 claims. i (ci. 10s- 414) This invention relates broadly to car structures and more especially to the manner of bracingthe central portion of bolstersfor a car body underframe.

5 The function of the bolster center brace in this invention is toact also as a back stop for the draft gear and furthermore as a brace for the center plate between the center sill members.

As all of the vertical load passes through the center plate it is very important that it should be properly braced.

Heretofore it has been the usual practice to secure the parts forming the center brace for the car body bolster and the `back stops for the draft gear by riveting the parts to the center sills. In a riveted structure there-is always some play in the rivets and the rivets nearest to the api plication of the loads receive the greatest stresses.

With our invention all of the vparts forming the center brace for'th'e car body bolster and back stop for the draftgear are constructed of rolled plate metal welded together and also secured to the center sill by welding thereby eliminating the use of rivets and forming a substantially integral structure.`

This welded construction makes a very rigid brace and also stiflens the lcentersill at this point, and is stronger, lighter and cheaper than a cast steel riveted structure or the like which could be substituted.

One of the objects of our invention relates to the combination of the king pin retainer and back stop brace. n

Another object of the invention is to form the central bracing of duplicate parts which canv easily be assembled and welded together andthen inserted as a unit between the center sills and welded in place.`

Another object of our invention relates to the 40 arrangement of the two horizontal keys which pass through the webs of the center sill `and are welded thereto thereby making a much stronger connection than any riveted design. As vthe top key is extended back over the center plate lt carries the buing forces back and distributes them over a larger portion. of the center sill.

Another object of the invention relates to the arrangement of securingthe vertical stops tothe front edge of the horizontal keys and the center sill in such a manner as to take the bufng forces to the best advantage.v 1

A further object of the invention is toform the top key so it will also act as the top V member for the center brace. This top key .with the bottom plate over the-center `plate and the vertical web plates form a rigid girder or brace to carry thevertical load to the center sills. y l With these and other objects in view which will become more apparent in the following descrip` through` the draft end of the center sill and car body bolster` center brace of a car underframe taken on the line i--I of Fig. 2 illustrating one l form of center brace construction in a car body bolster for an underframe having a single web plate.

Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal section taken centrally through the end portion of a car underframe taken on the line 2-:2 'of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a transverse section drawn on a larger scale than Figs. 1 and 2 taken on the line .3p-3.0i Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a transverse section taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 1.

Figs. 5 to 17, inclusive, illustrate details of `the parts from which the center brace is formed in the construction shown in Figs. 1 to 4.

Fig, 18 is a longitudinal sectional View through the `central portion of a bolster having a single web and the adjacent parts taken on the line |3|8 of Fig. 20 illustrating another form of our invention. u

Eig. 19 is a longitudinal sectional view taken on the line |9--I9 of Fig. 20.

Fig. 20 is a vertical longitudinal section taken centrally through the center brace construction for a car body bolster taken on the line 20--20` of Fig. V18.

Fig,2l is a transverse section drawn on a larger scale than Figs. 18 to 20, taken on the line 2 i-2I of Fig. 18.

Fig. 22 is a transverse section taken on the line 22-22 of Fig. 20. v

Fig. 23 is a longitudinal sectional view through the central portion of a bolster having a double Web and the adjacent parts taken on the line 23-23 of Fig. 25 illustrating still another form of our invention.

Fig. 24 is a longitudinal sectional view'taken on `the line 24--24 of Fig. 25.

Fig. 25 isv a vertical longitudinal section taken on the line 25-25 of Fig. 23'.

Fig. 26 is a transverse section drawn on a larger scale through the central portion of the bolster taken on the line 26--26 of Fig. 23, and Fig. 27 is a vertical transverse section taken on the line 21-21 of Fig. 25.

Referring nowvto the various characters of reference on the drawings and first to Figs. 1 to 17, inclusive, the numeral I indicates the center sill of the car composed of a pair of three-flanged bars spaced apart each having a vertically disposed web 2 with inwardly and outwardly extending horizontal flanges 3 and 4 at their bottom edges, and an inwardly extendingflange 5 along the upper edges which are connected together by means of a cover plate 6. The inwardly extending lower flanges are cut away between the bolster and the end of the car to allow for the insertion a vertical web plate I2 having its upper edge anged as at I3 and connected to the slope floor sheet I4 of a hopper car. The bolster is provided with a bottom cover plate I5 which extends transversely beneath the center sill and is riveted to the bottom flanges 3 and 4. 'I'he bottom edges of the web plate I2 are connected to the transversely extending cover plate by means of angles I6 and a reinforcing angle II extends over the center sill and is bent downwardly therefrom and is riveted to the top cover plate 6 and the web plate-I2.

The center sill is secured to the Web plate at the sides by means of vertically extending inner and outer angular connections I8 and I9. To further stiien the bolster at this point the inner connecting angles extend upwardly nearly to the slope floor sheet I4 and are reinforced by means of gusset plates 20.

The center brace for the bolster between the pair of bars forming the center sill is provided with a front plate 2I which forms the back stop for the yoke of a draft gear which is'horizontally disposed; a key plate 22 extends through the webs of the center sill. As the key plate 22 extends a short distance beyond the outer sides of the center sill it is necessary to have a ller plate 23 between the legs of the connecting angles I8 and I9 and the outside of the center sill. Mounted on top of the key plate 22 is a top U- shaped backing plate 24 for the front plate 2I, -upper center side plate 25 disposed in alignment with the bolster web plate I2, rear center upper rib plate 26, and upper back plate 21. A bottom plate 28 connects the inwardly extending bottom flanges of the bars forming the center sill. key plate 22 by means of a U-shaped bottom backing plate 29, similar to the top backing plate 24, lower center side rib plates 30, in alignment with the bolster web plate I2, rear center lower rib plate 3l, and lower back plate 32. A center plate 33 is riveted to the bottom of the cover plate I5 and the bottom anges of the center sill. The center plate 33, cover plate I5, bottom plate 28, and key plate 22 are perforated in alignment with each other as at 34, 35, 36 and 31 respectively to receive a king pin. Our` combined bolster center brace and back stopfor the draft.

gear is so constructed that all the members with This bottom plate 28 is connected to the the exception of the bottom horizontal plate can be welded together in a jig as a separate unit and then placed into the center sills and welded thereto. The bottom plate is then welded in place thereby forming a very rigid structure in which the bufling forces are more uniformly distributed over a larger area of the center sill than in a riveted structure.

Referring now to Figs. 18 to 22, inclusive, the center sill is indicated by the numeral 38 which is formed of a pair of Z-bars each having its web 39 disposed vertically with inwardly extending top flanges 40 of greater length than the bottom flanges 4I, said top flanges being welded together at their inner edges as at 42.

The bolster II is of substantially the same construction as the one above described and the same reference numerals will apply thereto, havin a vertical web plate I2 provided with a flanged upper edge I3, attached to the slope floor sheet I4, bottom cover plate I5, bottom angle I6, reinforcing angle I'I over the center sill, inner and outer connecting angles I8 and I9 between Webs 39 and I2 and gusset plates 20.. In this construction the bolster center brace and back stops for the draft gear are designed for a draft rigging having a vertically disposed yoke in which the back follower block engages the two back stops 43, While the inner end of the yoke projects between the back stops into the recess 44 formed by a vertically disposed U-shaped reinforcing plate 45 secured by welding and connects the outer edges of the upper and lower keys 46 and 41 respectively. The outer end portion of the top key 46 extends through the webs 39 of the center sills 38 and is welded to the outside of the webs 39 of the center sill as at 48, While the inner portion of the top key extends rearwardly and forms the top member of the center brace and is welded to the inside of the center sill members as at 49. The bottom key 41 is shorter than the top key and is adapted to extend through the webs 39 of the center sill and welded'on the outside of the webs 39 as at 56. The central portion of the bolster center brace is formed of a pair of vertical web plates 5I, arranged in parallel alignment with the web I2 of the bolster, each having an arcuately formed central portion 52 for receiving a king pin and are adapted to connect the center sill members and to be welded thereto as indicated. To further stiifen the bolster center brace longitudinally extending ribs 53 are welded to the vertical outer surfaces of the arcuately formed central portions 52 and are also Secured at their upper edges to the top key 46 and at their bottom edges to a bottom plate 54 which connects and is welded to the lower inner edges of the center sill members.

In this construction the usual center plate 33 is secured to the bottom cover plate I5, outwardly extending flanges 4I of the center Sill, and the bottom plate 54. The top key 46, bottom plate 54, bottom cover plate I5 and center plate 33 are all perforated centrally in alignment with the opening formed by the arcuate portions 52 of the central vertical web plate 5I of the bolster center brace to receive a king pin.

Referring now to the construction illustrated in Figs. 23 to 27, inclusive, in which the center brace is designed for use with a bolster having double web plates, preferably for a flat or gondola car or the like. In this construction the center sill 38, back stops 43, upper and lower keys 46 and 4'! connected by a U-shaped reinforcing plate 45, bottom cover plate l5, bottom plate 54 and center plate 33 are of Similar construction to those described for Figs. 18 to 22, inclusive, and the same reference numerals will apply thereto. The bolster in this construction is formed on each side of the center sill ol a pair of pan shaped members 55 each having a vertical web 56 and a. flanged edge 5l riveted to the bottom cover plate I5, the web 39, and the bottom flanges 4| of the center sill and to a top cover plate 58 which extends over the top of the center sill and bolster members.

Between the center silll members the bolster center brace is formed of a pair of channel shaped members 59 disposed vertically with their webs 60 back to back with their legs 6| extending outwardly in alignment with the bolster web 60 and the outer ends of the legs welded to the webs 39 of the center sill, while the top and bottom edges are welded to the top key 46 and the bottom plate 54. The central portions of the webs 60 are arcuately formed as at 62 to form a king pin pocket registering with perforations in the top key 46, bottom plate 54, bottom cover plate l5 and center plate 33, as clearly indicated in the drawings.

In -view of the foregoing it will be apparent that we have provided a plurality of simple fabricated constructions formed of rolled and pressed plate metal adapted to form a combined car body bolster, center brace and .back stop for the draft gear in which the joints are securely Welded together and the parts reinforced, which are adapted to be assembled as a unit in a jig and then inserted between the center sill members and welded thereto to form an integral structure.

Although we have shown and described our invention in considerable detail, we do not Wish to be limited to the exact and specific details shown and described, but may use such substitutions, modifications or equivalents thereof, as are embraced within the scope of our invention, or as pointed out in the claims.

Having thus described our invention what we claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a car underframe having a pair of spaced center sill members each having a vertical web with flanged top and bottom edges, a center plate secured to the bottom flanges of the center sill members, a body bolster having a Vertical web, a welded center brace for the body bolster and center plate mounted between the center sill members in alignment with the web of the bolster, and a key adapted to form a top wall for the center brace extending through the Webs of the center sill members and welded thereto.

2. In a car underframe having a pair of spaced center sill members each having a vertical web with flanged top and bottom edges, a center plate secured to the bottom flanges of the center sill members, a body bolster, a center brace for the body bolster and center plate welded to the spaced center sill members, a key adapted to form the top wall for the center brace extending through the webs of the center sill members and welded thereto, a bottom plate for the center brace mounted centrally above the center plate connecting and welded to the bottom edges of the spaced center sill members, and vertically extending longitudinal and transverse plate members having their upper and loweredges welded to the key and the bottom plate.

3. In a car underframeI having a pair of spaced center sill members each having a vertical web with flanged top and bottom edges, a body bolster, a center brace for the body bolster welded.to the center sill members, a key adapted to form the top wall for the center brace extending through the webs of the center sill members and welded thereto, a back stop for a draft rigging welded to the forward edge of the key, a bottom plate for the bolster center braceconnecting the spaced center sill members and welded thereto, backing plates welded to the top and bottom surfaces of the key, each comprising a vertical web bent to U-shape in plan and having the ends of their legs welded to the back stop for the draft rigging, and vertically extending longitudinal and transverse reinforcing plates welded to the key and bottom plate.

4. In a car underframe having a pair of spaced center sill members each having a vertical web with an inwardly extending flange at the top and bottom edges, a center plate secured to the bottom flanges of the center sill members, a body bolsterv having a single web plate and a bottom cover plate extending transversely of the car underframe, angles for connecting the bottom cover plate and center sill members to the single bolster web plate, a center brace for the body bolster and center plate mounted between the center sill members, comprising a key member adapted. to form the top wall for the center brace and to extend through the webs of the center sill members and to be welded thereto, a bottom plate mounted above the central portion of the center plate connecting the lower inwardly extending anges of the center sill members in spaced relation with the key, a back stop for a draft rigging welded to the forward edges of the key and the bottom plate, and vertically extending longitudinal and transverse plates connecting the key with the bottom plate.

5. In a car underframe having a pair of spaced center sill members each having a vertical web with an inwardly extending flange at the top and bottom edges, a body bolster having a single web plate and a bottom cover plate extending transversely of the car underframe, angles for connecting the bottom cover plate and the center sill members to the single bolster web plate, a center brace for the body bolster between the center sill members formed of a plurality of rolled plate members welded together, comprising a key member having its opposite ends adapted to extend through the webs of the center sill members and Welded thereto, a bottom plate connecting the lower inwardly extending flanges of the center sill members in spaced relation with the key, a center plate beneath the bolster center brace secured to the center sill, a

back stop for a draft rigging welded to the forward edges of the key and the bottom plate, a king pin pocket extending centrally through the center brace, U-shaped backing plates forming a portion of the king pin pocket welded to the top and bottom surfaces of the key having the ends of their legs welded to the back stop, transversely extending plates in alignment with the web plate of the bolster connecting the U-shaped backing plates with the center sill members, back connecting plates for the center brace, and longitudinally extending rib plates connecting the back plates with the U-shaped backing plates.

6. In a car underframe having a pair of spaced center sill members each having a vertical web with flanged top and bottom edges, a center plate secured to the bottom flanges of the center sill members, a bolster for the car underframe, a center brace for the bolster between the`pair of spaced center sill members, comprising a key mounted above the central portion of the center plate adapted to extend through the webs of the spaced center sill members and to be welded thereto and form the top member for the bolster center brace, a bottom plate for the center brace mounted below the key and extending above the central portion of the center plate having its opposite edges welded to the lower edges of the spaced center sill members, vertically extending transverse plates having their top and bottom edges connected to the key and bottom plate and their side edges welded to the pair of spaced center sill members, and vertical longitudinally extending rib plates having their edges welded to the transverse plates and the key and bottom plate.

'7. In a car underframe having a pair of spaced center sill members, a bolster secured to the center sill, a center brace for the bolster constructed of a plurality of rolled plate members welded together and inserted as a unit during assemblage of the underframe structure between the center sill members and welded thereto, comprising a key adapted to form the top wall for the center brace, a bottom plate for the center brace, a back stop for a draft rigging welded to the forward end edges of the key and the bottom plate, a. central perforation formed in vertical alignment with each other in the key and bottom plate adapted to lform a king pin pocket, and vertically extending longitudinal and transverse plates secured to the back stop for the draft rigging and welded to the key and bottom plate.

8. A combined center brace for a car body bolster and a back stop for a draft rigging formed of a plurality of rolled plate metal members welded together, comprising a key and bottom plate, a back stop plate for a draft rigging welded to the forward edges of the key and bottom plate, central perforations in the key and bottom plates adapted to form a vertically extending king pin pocket for the bolster center brace, backing plates each comprising a vertical web bent to U-shape in plan forming a portion of the king pin pocket having the ends of their legs welded to the back stop plate and secured to the key and bottom plate, and vertically extending longitudinal and transverse plates connecting the key and bottom plate.

9. In a car underframe having a pair of spaced center sill members each having a vertical web with flanged top and bottom edges, a center plate secured to the flanged bottom edges of the center sill members, a bolster for the underframe, a center brace for the center plate and bolster formed of rolled plate metal members welded together as a unit adapted to be inserted during assemblage of the underframe structure between the spaced center sill members and welded thereto above the central portion of the center plate, comprising a key forming the top member adapted to extend through the webs of the center sill members and to be welded to said webs, a plate forming the bottom member, and vertically disposed transverse and longitudinally extending plates having their top and bottom edges welded l spaced center sill members and welded thereto, a

U-shaped plate connecting the U-shaped forward edges of the keys, back stops for a draft rigging welded to the forward ends of the keys and the sides of the webs of the center sill members, a bottom plate for the bolster center brace connecting the center sill members, a pair of centrally disposed transversely extending plate members each having an arcuately formed intermediate portion connecting the top key member with the bottom plate member, and vertically extending longitudinal ribs welded to the arcuately formed intermediate portions of the transversely extending plates and the top key member and the bottom plate member.

11. In a car underframe having a pair of spaced center sill members each having a vertical web with outwardly extending flanges at the lower edge and inwardly extending flanges at the upper edges having their ends welded together, a bolster for the underframe having a single web secured to the center sill, a center brace for the bolster between the center sill members in alignment with the bolster web, a key extending through the Webs of the center sill members and welded thereto adapted to form the top wall of the center brace, a bottom plate having its opposite side edges welded to the bottom edges of the center sill members, a pair of transversely extending vertically disposed plates having their ends welded to the center sill members in alignment with the web of the bolster having arcuately formed central portions adapted to form a king pin pocket, and longitudinally extending ribs having their edges welded to the arcuately formed central portions of the transversely extending plates and connecting the key with the bottom plate.

12. In a car underframe having a pair of spaced center sill members each having a vertical web with flanged upper and lower edges, a bolster having a single web secured to the center sill members, a center brace for the bolster between the center sill members welded thereto, comprising a top key extending through the webs of the center sill members, and a bottom plate secured to the center sills, vertical transverse and longitudinally extending plates welded to the center sill members and the top key and bottom plate, a bottom key extending through the Webs of the center sills and Welded thereto, a U-shaped recess formed in the forward edges of the keys, a U-shaped plate Welded to the U-shaped recess of the keys and back stops for a draft rigging welded to the forward ends of the keys.

13. In a car underframe having a pair of spaced center sill members each having a vertical web and anged top and bottom edges, a bolster for the underframe, a center brace for the bolster between the pair of spaced center sill members, a top and bottom key having U-shaped forward edges extending through the webs of the pair of spaced center sill members and welded thereto, a U-shaped plate connecting the U-shaped forward edges of the keys, back stops for a draft rigging welded to the forward ends of the keys and the sides of the webs of the center sill members, said top key adapted to extend rearwardly and form the top of the bolster center brace, a bottom plate for the bolster center brace connecting the center sill members, a pair of centrally disposed transversely extending plate members each having an arcuately formed intermediate portion adapted to form a king pin pocket connecting the top key member with the bottom plate member, and vertically extending longitudinal ribs welded tothe arcuately formed intermediate portions of the transversely extending plates and the top key and the bottom plate member.

14. In a car underframe having a pair of spaced center sill members each having a vertlcal web and flanged edges. a bolster having a pair oi' spaced webs with flanged edges, a top and bottom cover plate extending across the center sills for the bolster, top and bottom keys extending through the webs of the center sills and welded thereto, back stops for the draft rigging welded to forward edges of the keys, said top key extending rearwardly and adapted to form the top ofy the bolster center brace,` a bottom plate for the bolster center brace connecting the spaced center sill members, and channel shaped central braces for the bolster having their legs disposed in alignment with the webs of the bolster and secured to the spaced center sill members and the top key and bottom plate.

15. In a car underframe having a pair of spaced center sill members each having a vertical web and flanged edges, a bolster having a pair of spaced webs, atop and bottom cover plate for the bolster extending-across the center sill, a

center brace for the bolster comprising a top key and a bottom plate having their opposite ends welded to the spaced center sill members, a pair of channel shaped members disposed with their webs back to back and their legs in vertical alignment with the webs of the bolster and welded to the center sill members and top key and bottom plate.

16. In a car underframe having a pair of spaced center sill members each having a vertical web and flanged edges, a bolster having a pair of spaced webs with fianged edges, a top and bottom cover plate for the bolster extending across the center sill and secured to the flanges of the bolster webs, and a center brace for the body bolster between the center sill members comprising a top key adapted to form the top wall for the center brace and a bottom plate having their opposite ends welded to the spaced center sill members, a pair of channel shaped members each having a web with an arcuately formed central portion disposed with their webs vertically and back to back and their legs in Vertical alignment with the webs of the bolster and welded to the center sill members and top key and bottom plate, a bottom key beneath the forward end of the top key extending through the webs of the center sill members and welded thereto, a U-shaped recess formed in the forward edges of the keys, a U-shaped plate welded to the forward U-shaped edges of the keys, and back stops for draft rigging welded to the forward ends of the keys and the center sill members.

17. A combined center brace for a car body bolster and a back stop for a draft rigging formed of a plurality of rolled plate metal members welded together, comprising a top and bottom key each having a U-shaped forward edge, a U-shaped plate connecting U-shaped edges of the keys adapted to form a recess, back stops for a draft rigging secured to the forward ends of the keys and the U-shaped plate, said top key extending rearwardly to form the top member for the bolster center brace, a bottom platefor the bolster center brace, a pair of channel shaped. members arranged with their webs vertically and longitudinally disposed back to' back with their upper and lower edges connecting the rearwardly extending portion of the key with the bottom plate.

18. In a car underframe having a pair of spaced center sill members each having a vertical web, a center plate secured to the center sill members, a body bolster. a center bracefor the center plate and body bolster mounted between the spaced center sill members and welded thereto and disposed above the intermediate portion of the center plate, a key extending through the Webs of the center sill members adapted to form the top wall for the center brace, a welded connection between the key and the webs of the center sill members, and a back stop welded to the forward end of the key and the webs of the center sill members.

19. In a car underframe having a pair of spaced center sill members each having a vertical web, aV center plate secured to the center sill members, a body bolster, a center brace for the center plate and the body bolster constructed of a plurality of rolled plate metal members welded together to form a unit and inserted between the pair of spaced center `sill members during the assemblage of the underframe structure and welded thereto, a key extending over the central portion of the center plate having its ends extending through the vertical Webs of the center sill members adapted to form the top wall for the center brace, and a welded connection between the ends of the key and the vertical webs of the center sill members.

20. In a car underframe having a pair of spaced center sill members each having a vertical web, a center plate secured to the center sill members, a body bolster having a vertical web,

a combined center brace for the body bolster and back stop for the draft gear inserted between the center sill members and welded thereto, said centerbrace extending over the central portion of the center plate and through the plane of the web of the bolster, a key adapted to form the top wall for the center brace having its ends extending through the vertical webs of the center sill members, and a welded connection between the webs of the center sill members and the ends of the keys.

21. In a car underframe having a pair of spaced center'sill members of rolled section each having a vertical web with flanged top and bottom edges, a bolster for the underframe having a single vertical web secured to the center sill, a center brace for the bolster formed of rolled plate metal members welded together and adapted to be inserted as a unit between the pair of spaced center sill members and welded thereto, comprising a key extending through the vertical webs of the center sill members and welded thereto forming the top Wall for the center brace, a plate having a welded connection with the lower edges of the center sill members forming the bottom wall for the bolster center brace, vertically disposed transverse plates each having an arcuately formed central portion disposed in alignment with the web of the bolster having their top and bottom edges welded to the ke'y and bottom plate member, a welded connection between the ends of the vertically disposed transverse plates and the webs of the center sill members, and longitudinally extending rib plates having their tops -and bottom edges welded to the key and the bottom plate.

22. In a ear underframe having a pair of spaced center lsill members of rolled section each having a vertical web with fianged top and bottom edges,

Afil) a bolster for the underframe, a center plate for the bolster, a combined back stop for the draft rigging and a center brace for the bolster, comprising a top and bottom key extending through the vertical webs of the center sill members and welded thereto, said top and bottom keys having U-shapcd forward edges, a U-shaped plate connecting the forward U-shaped edges of the keys, a back stop secured to the forward end edges of the keys and the ends of the legs of the U-shaped plate, said top key extending rearwardly over the center plate to form the top wall of the bolster center brace, a bottom plate having its opposite edges welded to the lower edges of the center sill members and vertically extending transverse and longitudinal plates connecting the top key with the bottom plate.

2 3. In a car underframe having a pair of spaced center sill members each having a vertical web with anged top and bottom edges, a center brace for the bolster inserted between the spaced center sill members, comprising a key extending through the vertical webs of the center sill members and welded thereto adapted to form the top wall for the center brace, a plate member having its ends welded to and connecting the lower edges of the center sill members, a pair of centrally disposed transversely extending plate members each having an arcuately formed intermediate portion connecting and having their edges welded to the webs of the center sill, top key and bottom plate member, and vertically extending longitudinal ribs welded to the arcuately formed intermediate portions of the transversely extending plates and the key and the bottom plate member.

24. In a car underframe having a pair of spaced center sill members each having a vertical web and anged top and bottom edges, a bolster for the underframe having a vertical web, a combined center brace for the bolster and a back stop for a draft rigging formed of a plurality of rolled plate metal members welded together, comprising a top and bottom key extending through the vertical webs of the center sill members and welded thereto, said top and bottom keys each having a U-shaped forward edge, a U-shaped plate connecting the U-shaped edges of the keys adapted to form a recess, back `stops for the draft rigging secured to the forward ends of the keys and the U-shaped plate, said top key extending rearwardly through the plane of the bolster web to form a top wall for the bolster center brace, a bottom plate for the bolster center brace welded to the lower edges of the center sill members, and vertically extending longitudinal and transverse plates connecting the rearwardly extending portion of the top key with the bottom plate.

25. In a car under-frame having a pair of spaced center sill members of rolled section each having a vertical web and flanged top and bottom edges, a bolster for the underframe having a vertical web, a combined center brace for the bolster and a back stop for a draft rigging formed of a plurality of plate metal members welded together, a key in the central plane of the bolster web extending through the vertical webs of the center sill members and welded thereto adapted to form the top wall of the renter brace, a plate below the key connecting the lower edges of the center sill members and welded thereto adapted to form the bottom wall for the center brace, said key and bottom plate each having a central perforation disposed in vertical alignment with each other and adapted to form a king pin pocket, a back stop plate for a draft rigging welded to the forward edges of the key and the bottom plate, and vertically extending longitudinally and transverse plates connecting the key and bottom plate and secured to the back stop plate.

JOHN E. TESSEYMAN. LOUISE G. MILLER. 

